2 weeks Ago By Benneth Joshua
ABUJA – Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has taken sides with Northern Traditional Rulers over their stance with the insecurity plaguing the region. Obi, through his X handle, said, “Their collective voice, as reported, underscores the urgent need for decisive action to protect lives and restore peace in our communities.” Northern traditional rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Wednesday expressed frustration over the unrelenting wave of killings and insecurity ravaging the area.
Speaking during the 7th Executive Committee Meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council in Maiduguri, the Sultan declared that traditional rulers are “more concerned” than politicians over the deteriorating situation and called for decisive action from the President Bola Tinubu-led government. He added, “Our coming together as traditional rulers in the North, I believe we have more than 86 in the North. We will speak with one voice to say ‘enough is enough’ of this senseless killing of innocent people across the North and the country.
” He lamented that despite repeated public condemnations of violence, the killings had continued unabated. “We have released so many statements of condemnation, but how many times do we need to condemn these killings before our political leaders and security agencies stop or reduce the insecurity in the country to the barest minimum?” The Sultan emphasised the emotional toll the violence is taking on traditional leaders. “We, the traditional rulers, feel bad and saddened when our people are killed by people we don’t know.
“It’s high time we worked harder, talked to ourselves and in closed-door meetings discussed it. We shall advise our political leaders, they are at the helm of affairs and we will work with them.” The meeting, themed “Enhanced Security As Panacea For Stability and Development of the North,” was attended by various northern monarchs, political leaders, and top security officials.
The Sultan reiterated that traditional rulers were not in competition with state governors but were playing a complementary role in stabilising their communities. “As traditional rulers, we are not competing with governors of our states, we are only helping them. We will not and will never be in contention with political leadership or governors,” he clarified.
Behind closed doors, the traditional council deliberated extensively on the worsening security crisis, particularly in Borno State. The Sultan mentioned reports of a resurgence of Boko Haram activities, especially in remote communities. “We heard some comments that Boko Haram is returning, and I say Insha Allah (God willing), Almighty Allah will give us the strength and wherewithal to defeat them,” he said.
Appealing to citizens not to lose faith, he said, “Yes, there is insecurity in some parts of Borno, but there is insecurity everywhere in the world, not only in Nigeria. “For some of us who have gone round the world will know, more people are being killed in some developed countries every day than the total amount of people killed in Nigeria in one month or two months.” However, he condemned the alarming rate of violent killings across the country.
“What happened in Plateau yesterday, and within the week, over 100 people were killed. It’s very bad because people appear from somewhere, kill you and they are never arrested. “Before them, people were killed in Sokoto on Sallah day, killed in Kebbi, as so many other places.
If you put together the total number of people killed in the country in the last month, it is so high.” The Sultan also cautioned against the ethnic and religious profiling of criminals, warning that criminality knows no boundaries. “In every tribe or religion, there are good and bad eggs.
So, let’s not look at some people and say they are the cause of our problems.” Reacting to the Sultan`s remarks, Obi said that their courageous steps are needed to find a lasting solution to the menace. “I would like to sincerely thank the Northern Traditional Rulers for their courageous and timely emergency declaration of the security situation in the region.
I cannot agree less with them that “Enough is Enough” regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation. “I urge governments at all levels to work closely with these royal fathers who are closest to the people at the grassroots. Their commitment to addressing these challenges and offering counsel to regional governors reflects true leadership and a deep concern for the well-being of their communities.
“The stance of the Northern Traditional Rulers serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders. We must unite, irrespective of political affiliations, to implement lasting solutions that address the root causes of our nation’s challenges. “Let us work together to build a Nigeria where every citizen feels safe, valued, and empowered.
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